Life preserver



Dec. 31, 1940. s. KlENlTz 2,226,564

LIFE PRESERVER Filed oct. e, 1937 n s sheets-sheet 1.

F-'I .6 BY

figg g MLM ATTORNEY.

Dec. 31, 1940. s. KlENlTz 2,225,554

' LIFE PRESERVER Filed oct. 8, 1957 3 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. 'SidingUenz'f'/ BYML @MJ ATTORNEY.

Dec. 31, 1940. s. KIENITZ 2,226,564

LIFE PRESERVER Filed oct. 8, 1957 :s sheets-sheet 3 b INVQNTOR. v BYSud-115:3 /Uze'nzl ATTORNEY.

Patented'. l

PATENT 1 OFFICE LIFE PRE SERVER i Sidney Kienitz, Shelton,` Conn.,assigninto Rubatex Products, Inc.,.New York, N. Y., a corporation ofDelaware Applicatie october s, 1937, sexismo. 167,926

i 7 Claims. My invention relates to a life preserver jacket and morespeccallyrrelates to a life preserver jacket of 'closed cell gasexpanded rubberof such construction as to safely carry va wearer in amore'or less upright position in the water'and protect him againstdrowning and the buffeting action of the waves.V

A, In the past, life preservers have been made of three primarymaterials, cork, kapok and balsa wood. I 'he report ofthe Committee onCommerce relating to the Investigations of the Steamships 'Morro Castleand Mohawk` disasters and the' adequacy of methods and practices forthesafety of life at sea, after a longand" exhaustive analysis of thevariousV materials and structures of lifev preservers have lrecommended,and laws have been passed to enforce vsuch recominondations, that lifepreservers may be made 'only of solid corkor closed cell Agas expandedrubbervand not of cork"shavngs, granulated cork, kapok or v'any other'loose granulated material.

Therefore, forjpractical purposes, solid cork is i the most commonlyused vlife preserver material and the prior art relating to thismaterial will be dealtA with in great'v detail lalthough the 'other ma'`terials of the prior art will be discussed.y

'I'he solid block cork necessitated` by these `regrulations is'expensive andA difficult to obtain -ln such form since most cork can becheaply "manufactured into desired shapesionlyby vthe use of mixescomprising particles of cork and binder. Cork is a relatively lightmaterial having a weight on the order of` 12'lbs;v per cu." ft. `It ishydrostatic by'nature and acts to take up and discharge Water accordingto the moisture `*conditions of the atmosphere in which itis' placed.This taking un of water'wets the canvas or duck fabric in which iti'senclose'd `in jacket form and in the vcourse of f a comparativelyshort time causes 'such rotting of the fabric that, upon being subjectedto the violent "action attendant upon its emergency use, such fabriccan`"easily be torn or ripped rendering the preserver useless. 'The averageuseful life of a canvas covered cork\preserver is approximately tworyears.` i

Cork, because of this hydrostatic pumping of water, not only losesbuoyancy when picking up water but also greatly increases in weight. Tne

onlyway to discover the buoyancy of a cork life If by any' chance,through some misstep' in the` process of manufacture," improper gasretention resulted so that the buoyancy of the material `would beimpaired, a mere glance would reveal a collapse ofthe surface of thematerial because of this loss of gas. Thus,mere visual inspection issuicie'nt to determine the elliciency ofthe jacket of my invention. Thisis of great importance sinceit is by no means expedientto test lifepreserver jackets by means of a water test when they are stored away onboard aship. y

An important disadvantage of cork relates to its rigidity. In manymarine disasters that. have occurred recently bodies were 'found in thewater with broken necks.- It is believed that such injury occurred whenpassengers Wearing cork life preservers jumped ofi` the decks at aconsiderable `distance from the water. In certain instances, uponstriking the water, the heads of the wearers were shown in such violentcontact with the rigid` cork of the' preserver that a brokeny neckresulted. 'I'he combination of the rigidityoflthe .cork in Cork,

paired and in the case of life preservers, which past as at'` nowprohibited in accordance with the law by the 1 j marine inspectionauthoritiesl' y A Life preserver jackets are stored away in closedspaces with little accessibility to air. Sponta` neous combustion in thekapok has ybeen suspected of causing many dangerous fires on shipboard.y A more dangerous feature, however, of kapok lies in its packingtendency. VIt has been found that;

after periods of disuse, the kapok has'settledfdown in the extremitiesof the compartments'in` which it is packed in the life preserver;4 Thissettling; a5 around the lower extremity, makes the middle the mostbuoyant section and throws the wearers stomach up and his head under thewater. Even a partial settling in the middle causes this, dangerousshifting of buoyancy which seriously im- 5 pedes necessary activity ofthe wearer in the water. Kapok depends for its buoyant properties uponthe proper separation of its fibres. lSIhere is no'way ttest itsoatability except by actually testing it in the water. AThis is notalways convenient in inspection of a large number of life preservers.

After a kapok jacket has been used it must be dried out very carefullyin an airy atmosphere and the kapok must be carefully prevented frommatting during this drying process. Matting of the kapok completelydestroys its buoyant properties since it is the inclusion of the airbetween the fibers of the kapok on which such buoyancy depends. If, forexample, the kapok on the front portion of the jacket should mat and thekapok in the rear remain buoyant, upon use, the wearers face would beforced down into the water. Further, any irregular matting of thebuoyant kapok would cause serious diiiiculties in positioning the wearerin the water. Similarly to cork, the only way to test the effectivenessof a kapok life preserver jacket is by actual testing in water. Aspointed out above, this is a difficult procedure on ship.

Balsa wood has also been used in the past to a slight extent for lifepreservers, but it is highly inflammable, expensive and has many otherdisadvantages that make its use impractical.

Balsa wood takes up moisture faster than cork. This tends to decreaseits buoyancy. Further, it can be easily splintered because of its lowstructural strength.

It has been proposed to make a buoyant life preserver from expandedrubber or rubber froth. Such construction is shown by Denton, 1,931,406.'I'he expanded rubber life jacket described therein. however. was ofrigid construction and presented the difllculties of the rigid corkdescribed above. It is a primary concept of my invention that thebuoyant material should be soft and exible in nature. Further, thespecific features of construction of my jacket which present new andunexpected results to be described later `are entlrely lacking inDentons life jacket.

The life preserver of my invention comprises closed cell gas expandedrubber constructed in a certain form which gives many new and unexpectedresults long desired but hitherto not obtained in this art. Ihe closedcell gas expanded rubber has many important properties. The first ofthese is its permanent floatability. The material consists of softrubber containing a multiplicity of small closed cells of an inert gas.It weighs about 8 lbs. per cu. ft., being much lighter than cork. Thematerial is resistant to rot of any kind and under normal circumstancesof use cannot lose its buoyant properties. It is not hydrostatic in anydegree since its cells are sealed one from the other andnon-communicating being separated by rubber membranes.

'Ihe material can be molded or formed as by cutting to any desired shapewhich, as will be pointed out later, is an important feature in myparticular construction. Its flexibility and softness are of particularimportance, as pointed out above, with regard to the danger of impacthitherto characteristic of rigid cork.

Careful laboratory tests have shown that upon submersion in water, theclosed cell gas expanded rubber of my invention has a water absorptionof only .6 by weight over a period of several days.

A primary feature of my construction lies in the use of two large wedgeshaped members of closed cell gas expanded rubber which arehpositionedin the front of the jacketwlthulargebulky section of the wedges at thetop and extending down to a thin taper at the bottom. These wedge shapedmembers have a triple function. First, they maintain the wearers body ina more or less upright position with head out of the water. Second, theyoffer a physical shield protection to the head and throat of the wearerboth at the time of the impact with the water upon occasion of jumpingfrom the deck into the water and also against the action of the waveswhile the wearer is in the water. Third, they prevent the entrance ofwater at the waist between the life preserver jacket and the wearersbody such as would cause a separation of the jacket from the wearer.

Referring now more specifically to these above mentioned features, Iwish to call special attention to the wedge shaped front construction ofmy life preserver jacket. These wedge shaped members of solid closedcell gas expanded rubber retain perfectly a desired position of thewearers body in the water. The concentration of the bulk of this buoyantmaterial high upon the wearers chest has a tendency to throw his headand shoulders out of the water and his feet somewhat below the surfacethereof. The concentration of the buoyant material in the center of thechest further acts so as not to impede any swimming or arm motion of thewearer while affording the buoyant protection.

In connection with the wedge shaped members, I can use two auxiliarypads of closed cell gas expanded rubber located above the wedge shapedmembers. These afford a further shield against the physical impact ofthe water, in conjunction with the wedge shaped members.

As a further guard against the entrance of water between the lifepreserver jacket and the wearers body, I provide, in a tunnel enclosurebelow the wedge shaped members, a draw string or tape which extends allthe way around the wearers body. A simple drawing and tying of this drawstring securely ts the preserver around the wearers' waist and acts toprevent the entrance of water beneath the jacket.

One important advantage of the life jacket construction of my inventionwith which this draw string has special reference lies in the fact thatit is adapted to t snugly on persons of entirely diiferent build. Intests, the jacket has been placed on a short man weighing about 240 lbs.and on a tall thin man weighing about lbs. In both cases the nt, becauseof the draw string and central, chest placed wedge shaped constructionof the buoyant material, was entirely satisfactory.

About the upper portion of each wedge shaped member and extending allthe way around said members are securing tapes. These tapes .in-

of the waves and lessen the initial impact withA the water. Second, theyadd to the buoyant properties of the jacket, helping to center thewearers weight around the chest and shoulder @accroc area. In the backof the preserver and adapted to be positioned across the shoulder bladesare two pads of closed cell gas expanded rubber. These maintain the`buoyant propertier of. the jacket with respect to the chest area of thewearer. If desired, pads of the same material can be located at thesides of the jacket to add to its buoyancy.

It is to be noted that my jacket is exceedingly simple both to put onand to secure in place. Its obviously simple construction permits ofonly one manner of use so that no confusion is possible. It is securedin the natural places in front, that is across the chest, and around thewaist by simple tie strings whose use could not be confused and whichare so positioned that there is little likelihood of tearing.

My construction is not to be confused with the fabric tube filled withkapok which is to be found in certain life preservers of the prior art.Not only was there no provision for buoyancy with respect to more orless upright position of the wearer, but the special features of wedgeshaped members set forth above were entirely lacking.

The life preservers which were adapted to support the wearer with faceup in the water speciilcally relied upon placing of a large amount ofbuoyant material up and down the front of the jacket. Not only wouldthese jackets tend to throw the wearers head back level withthe waterbut they also had the effect of turning the wearer over very rapidly inthe water. That is, when the wearer of the jacket entered the water thelarge amount of buoyant material in the front of the jacket tended tospin him rapidly around into iinal position. This rapid spinning isobviously undesirable for many reasons. The life preserver jacket of myinvention takes approximately four seconds to turn the wearer over inthe water and this turning over results in the wearers head and neckbeing entirely out of the water and his entire body ending up in a moreor less sitting position with relative freedom of movement. The buoyancyelements in my jacket are largely centered about the shoulders and topof the chest to effect this desirable final positioning of the wearer.

A further important distinction of my preserver lies in the simple andprecise iitting of the wedge shaped members against each other whensecured, to aiford a solid uniform surface. Hitherto it has beenimpossible to obtain a life preserver jacket adapted to turn and holdthe wearer in a more or less upright position without providing a largevolume of buoyant material. This large volume of material provided abulky preserver that seriously impeded any swimming action on the partof the wearer and tended to throw the wearers stomach out of thewater.Further, no preserver in the prior art had the careful control of theparticular upright position desired and obtained by the life preserverset forth herein.

Another important feature of the` construction of my life preserverjacket lies in the fact that the buoyant pads are centered in place andbe, cause oi' their molded rconstruction and integral nature, they canin no way shift so as tol cause an undesirable buoyancy displacement.This is in marked contrast to the loose buoyant material such as kapokhitherto used in the art. It is another important feature of myconstruction that there is no inside or outside to the jacket. Theconstruction is reversible and as4 long as the wedge shaped pads are infront it`does not matter whether the jacket is put on properly or insideout.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel life preserver jacket ofclosed cell gas expanded rubber material.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel life preserverjacket of soft and ilexible ma- 5 terial of permanent form.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel lite preserverjacket with front wedge shaped construction to turn and maintain thewearer leaning slightly backward in a nearly up- 1 right position in thewater.

A further object or my invention is to provide a novel life preserverjacket to protect the 'wearer against the physical action attendant uponimpact with water on the initial jump and subsequent 15 wave action.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a novel lifepreserver jacket comprising wedge shaped members with tapered edgedownward to prevent a penetration of water between 20 the life preserverand the wearer such as would cause separation of the jacket from thebody of the wearer.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel life preserverjacket with a draw string 25 below the buoyancy elements of the Jacket.

Another object of my invention is to provide a life preserver jacket ofclosed cell gas expanded rubber which can be stored simply and in asmallspace, the regularity of the shape of the life pre- 30 server making itaccessible in time of need.

A further object of my invention is to provide la fastening for a lifepreserver jacket that embraces completely the buoyancy elements toprovide the most secure iitting and eliminate possibility of separationby tearing.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a novel reversiblelife preserver jacket which is of such construction that it can be putonin but one obvious and correct manner. 40

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel life preserverjacket with buoyancy elements positioned at the back and sides toprovide acertain desirable balance for the wearer in the water.

Figure l represents a front perspective show- 45 ing the jacketof myinvention properly in place on the wearer. The dotted lines indicate theinternal construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a side view showing the jacket in perspective. 50 Figure 3is a back view showing the jacket on the wearer.

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken along the lines 4-4 ci Figure 1 andshows the construction of the wedge shaped elements. 1 .55

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5 5. of Figurel. It shows the side pad.

Figure 6 is a cross-section taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1 andshows a kcross-section of the wedge shaped members with specialreference to 60 the wedge shape.

Figure 7 is a plan cross-section taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 shows the wearer of this life preserver I jacket landing in thewater from a distance. 55

Figure 9 shows the life preserver jacket on the wearer who has fallenface down into the water.

Figure 10 shows the wearer of such a life preserver jacket now carriedover on his back with his head and shoulders out ofthe water because ofthe placing of the buoyant members of the life preserver jacket.

Figures 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, are side views showing the turning actionof thebuoyant life preserver jacket in reversing the wearer who is lyingface down in the water over on to his face and finally with his head outof the water and his feet and lower part of his body downwardly in amore or less sitting position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, in Figure 1 the lifepreserver jacket of my invention is shown on the wearer. In the canvasjacket I is secured the wedge shaped members 2 and 3 sewed in the fabric4 by the stitching 5. It is to be noted that these long wedge shapedmembers run vertically along the body of the wearer and are centrallypositioned therein, with the bulk of the material placed high in thejacket. The pads 6 and I may be formed integrally with the wedges orpreferably in the form of separate pads and secured adjacent to thewedges in proper position in the fabric. Attention is directed to thephysical protection offered to the throat and chin of the wearer bythese front members.

At the sides of the jacket are located buoyancy pads 8 and 9 whichailord additional buoyancy and have a balancing effect with respect tothe remainder of the jacket. Securing the jacket on the wearer andmaintaining thewedge shaped -members properly in place is tie string IIIwhich extends completely around the two wedge members 2 and 9 so that itis practically impossible not to obtain proper fastening and securing ofthese wedge members in emergency use. Around the lower portion of thejacket and formed integrally therewith is a fabric II which extendsaround the waist of the wearer and in which is positioned a draw stringI2.

The draw string I2 is fastened in the back of the tunnel and cannot bepulled out. This is important to maintain the draw string always inproper position and eliminate possibility of its loss. v

InFigure 2, the pad I4 is shown positioned high up upon the back of thejacket to afford the proper balanced buoyancy to the wearer.

The back view of Figure 3 shows the pads I4 and I5 which provide buoyantfeatures. A securing stitching I6 assists in securing the pads I4 and I5in their proper positions.

In the cross-sectional view of Figure 4 are shown the wedge members 2and 3 which are made up of closed cell gas expanded rubber I1 containinghomogeneously throughout, cells of inert gas I8. This closed cell gasexpanded rubber is enclosed within the canvas I which is secured by thestitching I9. Around the wedge members is the securing tape I0.

In Figure 5 is shown a similar construction in which the closed cell gasexpanded rubber I1 is secured within the canvas jacket I by the stitch-A ing I9.

are clearly indicated. The expanded rubber element 20 is shaped so thatthe top of the element is in the form of a bulky blunt end 2l and thebottom tapers to a thin edge 22. This wedge shaped element is secured inthe canvas I and provided with hereinbefore mentioned fastening means I9and I2.

In Figure 'I are shown the rear pads Il and I5 consisting of closed cellgas expanded rubber I1 secured within the canvas I by stitching I9.

Taking the Drawings 8, 9, and 10 in their proper sequence, we nd a manwearing the life preserver jacket of my invention entering the waterfrom a distance. The importance of the draw string I2 which is at thelowest part of the life preserver jacket, andthe tapered buoyancyelements is clearly shown. When tied about the waist of the wearer,water is prevented from entering between the life preserver jacket andthe wearer's body. In the past, the force of a jump of this nature hasoften been suillcient to separate an ordinary life jacket from thewearer.

The expanded rubber elements 9 and 1 afford a physical protection to thewearer's throat and chin upon striking the water, the jacket beingstreamlined. to throw the water away from these places. This is of greatimportance when the wearer is forced to jump an appreciable distance, asfrom the deck of a ship. Upon entering the water we will assume, asshown in Figure 9, that he lands over upon his face. Oftentimes theforce of a fall from a. tremendous distance, a mental shock or exposureis enough to render the wearer unconscious. It is then imperative thathe be automatically turned over by the jacket so that he rides in thewater with his head up so that his breathing will not be interferedwith. In the life preserver jacket of my invention the bulky wedgeshaped members 2 and 3 automatically act to slowly turn the wearer overon his back as shown in Figure 10 where his breathing is assured.

Figures 11 to 15 should be taken in sequency and similarly show theaction of the life preserver jacket oi' my invention in turning over awearer, who is positioned face down in the water, on to his back.

The nal position of the wearer is shown in Figure 15 in which his headis out of the water and he has assumed a sitting position. This allowsfreedom of movement for swimming and at the same time assures properbreathing.

I shall now describe a specific manner in which I make the lifepreserver jacket of my invention. The most important elements are ofclosed cell gas expanded buoyant material. These are made as follows:

I take a mix of the following:

Parts by weight Smoked sheets of rubber 100 Zinc 4 Whiting 50 Sulphur 3Phenylbetanaphtha-amine 1 Parain wax 3 Diphenylguanidine v0.5

The smoked rubber is thoroughly masticated upon rolls. To this is addedthe reclaimed rubber. Immediately thereafter there is incorporated thezinc oxide, Whiting, paraiiln wax, phenylbetanaphtha-amineanddiphenylguanidine. Immediately after blending these above ingredients,sulphur is added to the rubber mix.

These materials are thoroughly incorpora-ted in the rubber on the rollsand the rubber is then allowed to rest in a cool dark place for a periodof about 24 hours.

This serves to allow the molecular structure of the rubber to restoreitself to its normal position. The violent working of the rubber on therolls appears to disarrange the spiral or extended molecular structureof the rubber and affect certain of its desirable properties.

It has been found that superior results and improved properties in thefinal structure are obtained by the use of this rest period.

After the modifiers have been incorporated in the rubber mix and therubber has been thoroughly rested, it is shaped on a suitable formingmachine such as an extruder or calender. The soshaped rubber is thenplaced into a gassing chamber or autoclave and subjected to a gaspressure of nitrogen at a pressure of about 300 lbs. per sq. in.

After the rubber mix has been thoroughly impregnated with this gas, thegas' pressure is released and the mix is taken out and placed insuitable' molds. There it is subjected to a vulcanizing heat which actsto completely expand the gas enclosed in the rubber and consequently therubber structure itself, and also to vulcanize the rubber to a finalcure. v

The rubber dough can be given a preliminary vulcanization or partial-cure before gassing, or

concurrently with the gassing. This is in order that the rubberstructure itself will be sufilciently set to prevent the escape of theenclosed gas.

Alternative methods of forming closed cell gas expanded rubber such asinternal development of gas may be employed, any suitable method offorming closed cell gas expanded rubber being within the purview of myinvention. It is of utmost importance, however, that closed cell gasexpanded rubber be obtained and not an open celled sponge rubber.

The wedge members 2 and 3 described hereinbefore can be molded preciselyto shape or cut lfrom blocks or sheets. Similarly with the smallpad-like block members which add to the buoyancy of the jacket. The so.shaped buoyancy members of closed cell gas expanded rubber are thensecurely stitched within the canvas or duck jacket as indicated'in thedrawings. It will be noted from the drawings that the life preserverjacket of my invention has regular shape and, when stored away, can beso positioned as to utilize but a minimum of space. This is ofimportance since space is of value aboard ship and also because theregularity with which it can be stored affords easy access in time ofneed. 'Ihe tie and draw strings can be positioned within the jacket sothat no confusion and entanglement is possible.

The simplicity of this life preserver jacket makes its use obvious evento a bewildered user during an emergency since it corresponds to almostany coat or jacket arrangement such as a wearer is accustomed to. Thesecuring strings and tapes are positioned directly in front of wearersbody in a perfectly normal position so that their use is obvious. 'I'hemanner in which they are to be tied precludes the possibility ofimproper securing.

The large wedge shaped members composed of closed cell gas expandedrubber are positioned within the canvas or duck jacket with the bulkyedge up and the tapering edge downward. They are so placed as to bepositioned directly in front of the wearer and in side to siderelationship as indicated in Figure l. Either integrally with thesewedge shaped members or preferably in the form of separate pads are twobuoyant pad members of the same expanded rubber material positionedabove the wedge shaped member and so placed as to be on either side ofthe wearers neck and chin. High upon the back of the preserver areplaced two other pads of gas expanded rubber to provide proper buoyancyfeatures. Suitable stitching in the canvas runs around all of thesemembers to hold them properly in place. If desired, additional side padspositioned below the arm pit of the wearer can be inserted in thejacket. These pads can be used but are not necessary for completesafety. Around the bottom of the life preserver jacket formed integrallywith the jacketis a tunnel of fabric in which is disposed a draw string.This draw string thus is positioned to securely hold the bottom of thejacket close to the wearer's waist and prevent vertical movement of thejacket. The upperpart of the life preserver jacket is secured in properposition on the wearers body by means of a tie string which goescompletely around the upper part of the wedge shaped members and holdsthem closely together. There is little likelihood that the tie stringcan be ripped from the jacket because it is engaged completely with thecloth thereof by suitable stitching and extends to completely surroundthe expanded rubber elements in secured contact therewith.

It is within the purview of my invention to vary the position of thevarious buoyancy elements in any way that may be found desirable for theresults indicated.

I claim:

1. A life jacket comprising a fabric jacket and two soft and flexibleelements of closed cell gas expanded rubber having a wedge shapedcrosssection contained therein, said wedge shaped elements beingdisposed in the front of the jacket with the large blunt end up and thetapered' thinner end down, and a tape encompassing said two elements forsecuring them together and simultaneously closing the jacket.

2. A life jacket comprising a fabric jacket, soft and flexible closedcell gas expanded rubber in solid form contained therein, said soft andflexible closed cell gas expanded rubber being in the form of buoyancyelements. said buoyancy elements comprising two elements having a wedgeshaped cross-section disposed in the front of the jacket with the largeblunt end up and the tapered thinner end down and preformed balancingauxiliary pads of soft and nexible closed cell gas expanded rubberbuoyancy elements in the back of the jacket, a tunnel aroundthe waist ofthe jacket, a draw string in said tunnel, said draw string being securedin said tunnel, securing tapes extending around said wedge shapedbuoyancy elements to completely encompass the same.

3. A life jacket comprising a fabric jacket, soft and flexible closedcell gas expanded rubber in solid form contained therein, said soft andexible closed cell gas expanded rubber being in the form of buoyancyelements, said buoyancy elements comprising two elements having a wedgeshaped cross-section disposed in the front of the jacket with the largeblunt end up .and the tapered thinner end down and preformed balancingauxiliary pads of soft and flexible closed cell gas expanded rubberbuoyancy elements in the back of the jacket, a tunnel around the waistof the jacket, a draw string in said tunneLsaid draw string beingsecured in said tunnel, securing tapes extending around said wedgeshaped buoyancy elements to completely encompass the same. said jacketbeing reversible so that it can be utilized with safety with properresults on either side.

4. A life jacket comprising a fabric jacket, soft and flexible closedcell gas expanded rubber buoyancy elements having a wedge shapedcross-section being disposed in the front of the jacket, auxiliary padsof soft and flexible closed cell gas expanded rubber, located on saidjacket at the neck portion thereof, said auxiliary pads protruding upfrom the jacket to add buoyancy around the wearers upper trunk and toprotect the wearers neck and face from the limpact of the water.

5. A life jacket comprising a fabric jacket, soft and flexible closedcell gas expanded rubber in solid form contained therein, said soft andflexible closed cell gas expanded rubber being in the form of buoyancyelements. said buoyancy elements comprising two elements having a wedgeshaped cross section disposed in the front of the Jacket with the largeblunt end up and the tapered thinner end down and preformed balancingauxiliary pads of soft and flexible closed cell gas expanded rubberbuoyancy elements in the back of the jacket, and means for securing saidvarious buoyancy elements to the body.

6. A life jacket comprising a fabric jacket. soft and flexible closedcell gas expanded rubber in solid form contained therein, said soft andexible closed cell gas expanded rubber being in the form of buoyancyelements. said buoyancy elements comprising two elements having a wedgeshaped cross section disposed in the front of the jacket with the largeblunt end up and the tapered thinner end down, and preformed balancingauxiliary pads of soft and flexible closed cell gas expanded rubberbuoyancy elements in the back of the Jacket, and means for securing saidvarious buoyancy elements to the body comprising a securing means aboutthe waist portion.

7. A life jacket comprising a fabric jacket, soft and flexible closedcell gas expanded rubber in solid form contained therein, said soft andexible closed cell gas expanded rubber being in the form of buoyancyelements, said buoyancy elements comprising two elements having a wedgeshaped cross section disposed in the front of the jacket with the largeblunt end up and the tapered thinner end down, and preformed balancingauxiliary pads of soft and flexible closed cell gas expanded rubberbuoyancy elements in the back of the jacket, and means for securing saidvarious buoyancy elements to the body comprising a securing means aboutthe waist portion, and a securing tape about said rst mentioned buoyancyelements.

SIDNEY KIENITZ.

